In which I post some very personal views.

[matrixrefugee]

I've been somewhat AWOL from this journal, and for decidedly personal reasons. I'm going to express them here, but first, I feel the need to post a bit of a disclaimer

Comments

[elaryn]

Your views are your views. Here, of all places, you have the right to express them. *hugs*

We do not agree on gay marriage, but that's okay. I still love you, and I respect your views and will defend your right to express them. ^_^

[matrixrefugee]

As I've said elsewhere, in the words of Dean Winchester in the first episode of "Supernatural", "Driver picks the tunes, shotgun shuts their cakehole". And reading this LJ is riding shotgun with a person who may have some strange tunes on the playlist: I may even do the equivalent of trying to sing along with a Kraftwerk instrumental. I'm honored to have you ridin' shotgun with me. :: Smiles::

[becoming_rachel]

Matrix, I applaud and admire you for being able to express yourself so openly and respectfully. This is your journal and your place to discuss whatever you like, and I'm honoured that you allow us "in" to share with you. ((hugs)).

I feel blessed to know you, and it might sound cliched, but if we all thought alike, it would be a dull world indeed.

[matrixrefugee]

:: Hugs:: It wasn't easy to post this, and I put a lot of thought, concern, worry, planning, praying and weighing of words into it. I hope I was as clear as I could be on the matter, as it's something that, as my mother put it, can be "as clear as mud", especially how a lot of dirt and dust can get tracked into the waters as we all try to muddle our way through to some semblance of resolution.

[veleda_k]

I don't understand how anyone could oppose legalizing gay marriage based on religious reasons. Well, actually I do. It's based on the idea that Christianity is somehow more important than any other religion. I'm Wiccan. My religion has no problem with gay marriage. Why should your religion be given more weight than mine? In fact, I could say that my freedom of religion is being impeded by gay marriage not being legal. Of course, that would be crazy, but Christians have said that hate crime laws (which deal with violence not speech) are discriminatory against Christians, so crazier things have been said

[matrixrefugee]

I am not saying that Christianity is more important than any other religion. It is the faith that I follow and it is my belief system. This is why I choose not to engage in any discussion on the matter, since it tends to devolve into hair-splitting and that can get irritating

[veleda_k]

Marriage to me is more than just a civil contract: within the Church it is also a spiritual commitment and a sacrament, which can be ratified only with the right form (ie. the marriage vows and the blessing of the priest/deacon acting as the official witness of the Church) and the right substance (ie. a man and a woman of sound mind who are fully aware of the level of responsibility that married life entails)

That's nice and all, but it has nothing to do with United States law. I really don't care if the Catholic Church thinks I'm an icky sinner and won't let get married in the Church. I want my basic civil and legals rights, which in any country that is not a theocracy should never be affected by anyone's spiritual views. It shouldn't be a part of the issue.

[anivad]

Sure, a non-theocratic state should not be allowed to pass laws based on religious views, but as long as freedom of religion exists, an individual is entitled to hold certain views that are influenced by their personal religious beliefs.

[luna_glass_wall]

Let me get this out of the way: I'm a religious studies minor and next year will be going to the New Seminary. I adore the shit out of religion. I have nothing against you as a Catholic, and your religion has no bearing on this reply.

since we have a strict moral code
Wow. Wow, that...that hurts. That really fucking hurt. You know, I've yet to see how Penis + Vagina is in any way more "moral" than any other combination of genitalia in a relationship. Isn't morality more along the lines of giving when you are asked to give, loving your enemy, turning the other cheek, etc? What bearing does genitalia have on a person's moral code? How does the fact that I have a girlfriend make me less "moral" than anyone else? I can accept that heterosexuality is more "normal", or hell, more "conducive to the survival of the species". But I have yet to see how attraction to the same sex makes you more or less "moral".

I still haven't gotten over Jay and his husband. I don't hate them, but I am deeply hurt and upset.Why? You two had no commitment to

[veleda_k]

I love this comment a lot.

[anivad]

From what I've known of her, I really don't think that matrixrefugee meant to imply in any way that she thinks homosexuality is less moral (going by colloquial definitions of moral) than heterosexuality, because she's always been awesome about GLBT matters; but that according to the Catholic Church, their moral code states that it is, and as a Catholic, she is therefore obliged to follow that moral code. Personal opinion does not always come into play here.

Similarly, adherents to a strict Muslim moral code would say that a woman exposing, say, an ankle is being immoral. And according to their code, it would be. This would say nothing of the people who follow that code because it's their religion. They may personally disagree that it's immoral, but if they want to be Muslim and want to be moral under Muslim standards, they would follow it

[veleda_k]

And what of the example that luna_glass_wall brought up, that of civil rights and slavery? Once it was believed that the mark of Cain was in fact black skin, or that Blacks were the descendants of Ham and thus deserved to be slaves. It was a religious belief, argued with all passion that homophobia is argued now. Was that moral too?